Wolf Eels: Lazy Lovers of the Pacific

Snuggled within the cracks and crevices of the Pacific coasts rocky reefs lies two lovers in hiding. With elongated slender bodies, large heads and intimidating jaws, wolf eels were named for their superficial resemblance to eels and wolves. However, they are neither wolf nor true eel. Instead, they are part of the Anarhichadidae family, which is a group known as the “wolf fishes.” These animals inhabit the cool waters of the northern Pacific, ranging from the Sea of Japan and Aleutian islands to Southern California, making a home in rocky reefs and stony bottoms. Some say they have a face “only a mother could love,” and while they may startle us with their bulbous fleshy heads and massive daunting jaws, wolf eels are known to be curious and even friendly to divers.

Wolf eels are one of the rare creatures on Earth that finds a partner and mates for life, in most cases. As juveniles, wolf eels are like lone wolves drifting with the ocean currents and hanging out near the top of the water column. One juvenile was even documented traveling 1,000 km from British Columbia to Washington over two years. With their bright orange skin and slender head and body, they most closely resemble eels at this stage of their life. As they age, their skin darkens and they begin looking for a place to settle on the seafloor. It is here they act like old romantics, wooing their partners and settling down in a rocky lair to live out their days. Wolf eels are known to be highly attentive parents, with both parents invested in nurturing and caring for their eggs.

Once settled, these animals are territorial and males will fight one another for space, or sometimes females. Reaching lengths of up to eight feet and weighing up to 50 pounds, these animals can be massive. The males are gray in coloration while the females are brown, but both have a unique pattern of spots differentiated by their gender. They possess a thick coating of slime, which serves as protection like an immune system, and have small and imbedded scales giving them a leathery appearance. Most striking are the jaws of wolf eels, which are specially adapted to crunch through the hard outer layers of tasty animals such as sea urchins and other hard-shelled animals including mussels, clams, snails, and even fish. They have a row of 4-6 fang-like teeth in the front for piercing, and back rows of strong molars meant for crushing and grinding prey.

Currently, the population of wolf eels appears to be stable. While fisherman do not generally target wolf eels, they are frequently caught in crab and fish traps. Many marine species are threatened from being accidentally caught in fisherman gear. For wolf eels, it is important to maintain their habitat, which means keeping our oceans clean of pollution, debris, and chemical or sewage runoff which can damage the kelp forest environment, threatening their food supply and habitat. Mysterious and unique, wolf eels are fascinating creatures illustrating there is more than meets the eye when it comes to understanding our oceans amazing animals.

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Wolf Eels: Lazy Lovers of the Pacific

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